Classifier



H. A. CUPPY CLASSIFIER Filed Sept. 8, 1931 T0 MILL INVENTOR. HA 1).! 7'7 A1. VA QUPEY 472W 1% Co ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE CLASSIFIER. Hazlitt Alva Guppy, San Francisco, Calif. Application September 8, 1931, Serial No.- 561,718

10 Claims. (01. 209-144) I The present invention relates to improvements in classifiersand has particular reference to a classifier adapted to be used for classifying sugar, cocoa and the like, where it is desired to reduce the material to extremely'fine particles.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a classifier of the character described in which there are no moving parts and in which the classifying is carried out in several stages by directing a material laden fluid through the device-which is constructed to successively remove the material from the fluid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which the classifying operation is carried on in a continuous procession, the same fluid being used over and over again whereby the fluid is always kept at the proper temperature for the best results and moisture conditions.

A further object of the invention is .to combine three difierent units into one system, the first unit serving to classify the material so as to separate the lighter particles from the heavier ones and to return the heavier ones to a mill for further crushing or grinding, while the second unit is designed to separate further material from the fluid carrying the same, and the third unit collects the remaining material and returns the fluid to the first unit andthe mill, means being provided for allowing an excess of fluid to dissipate into the atmosphere.

It is further proposed in the present invention to provide improvements in the details of construction and particularly in the classifying means as such.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawingin which Figure 1 shows partly in elevation and partly in vertical section the complete system containing a separator and a dust collector and an air filter;

Figure 2 a detail View in vertical section of a' discharge means for the material la'den fluid;

Figure 3 a horizontal section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 a, horizontal section taken along line 3. The separator I consists of a cylindrical container 2' having a funnel 3' at the bottom and a frosto-conical top 4. A conduit 5 extends centrally into the container from the bottom and is connected to a mill (not shown) from which a material laden fluid is conducted into the conduit under pressure; The conduit terminates substantially at the top of the funnel 3' and is pro-' vided at its upper end with a plurality of lateral apertures 6 through which the fluid can be discharged, a plurality of blades I giving to the fluid a whirling motion. The conduit 5 is covered by a head 8 presenting a conical face upwardly and also having a cone 9 projecting into the conduit for diverting the material laden fluid into the apertures 6.

Surrounding the upper end of the conduit 5 I provide a funnel Ill against the wall of which the material and the fluid are discharged irt whirling movement. The funnel In terminates at its bottom in an outwardly flaring flange I I which forms an annular passage with a second flange I2 spaced therefrom for an air-blast entering through the pipe I3, the two flanges I I and I2 being suitably connected by walls I3 and I4 to provide a complete enclosure for the compressed air.

It will be noted that the construction so far described causes the material laden fluid to be discharged in a whirling movement into the funnel I0, while at the same time an air-blast rises between the flanges II and I2 and passes through the whirling material for carrying the lighter nel I! provided with a cylindrical flange I8. The 1 top of the cylindrical flange I8 is substantially on a level with the top of the cylinder I and is dimensioned to leave a passage between the same through which the air-blast carrying the lighter particles of the, material is conducted. When leaving this passage the air-blast strikes the conical wall of the top and is diverted toward the funnel IT by means of a frusto-conical flange I9 and here a second classification takes place, the

heavier particles gravitating toward the bottom F of the funnel II, while the fluid carrying the lighter particles passes into the conduit 20, the mouthpiece 2I of which extends centrally into the upper portion of the funnel H. The heavierv par-. ticles separated-during the second classification pass through the conduit l6 and are deflected by the cone 8 to mix with the whirling material in the funnel in where they are again subjected to classification, either following the upward stream through the cylinder 2 or dropping downward through the conduits [5. When the particles passing downward through the conduit l6 strike the cone 8 they are not only diverted, but also comminuted and particularly lumps that have been formed are broken up.

The mouth-piece 2! of the conduit 20 may be raised and lowered by means of a, rod 2| extending through the top of the housing I whereby the amount of material to be carried by the fluid through the conduit 20 may be adjusted. As the mouth-piece 2| is lowered it approaches the bottom of the funnel i1 and exerts greater suction cn the particles gathered there so that more material and comparatively heavier particles are entrained in the fluid. As the mouth-piece is raised the distance between it and the bottom of the funnel is increased whereby the effect of the suction is lessened and the amount of material entrained is decreased. The conduit 20 connects with the dust collector 2, a fan 22 being preferably interposed to boost the draft. The fluid is discharged into a cylindrical chamber 23 in tangential direction so that again a whirling motion takes place in this chamber. Suspended from the chamber there is a long funnel 24 and the heavier particles of the material entrained in the fluid drop toward the bottom of the funnel and are discharged through an opening 25 to furnish the first product known as fine sugar, if the device is used for classifying sugar. A conduit 26 extends from the top into the chamber 23 to receive the fluid and lighter material carried there by, a bafile plate or disc 21' being provided in spaced relation to themouth of the conduit 26 to prevent direct suction on material aggregating in the lower end of the funnel and formation of a vacuum.

The fluid with the lightest particles entrained therein passes through the conduit 26 into the air filter 3 and is first discharged into an annular chamber 28, see Figure 4, enclosed in a housing 29. The chamber 28 is provided with a bottom 39 having a comparatively large central opening 3i. Some of the'material entrained in the fluid is thrown outward and reaches any one of a plurality of vertical pipes 32 communicating with the chamber through slits 33. The other material gradually works toward the opening 35 in the bottom and is collected by any one of a large number of stockings 34 suspended from the housing 29 and all the material passing through the vertical pipes 32 and the stockings 34 is received in a funnel 35 and discharged through the bottom thereof to form the second or superfine product. A conduit 36 extends centrally into the chamber 28 and is adapted to receive the fivid which is now divested of all material. A secoi (1 fan 31 is preferably used for increasing the draft and a conduit 38 at the discharge end of the second fan connects with the pipe 83 of the separator so that the same fluid is again passed into circulation and is used continuously. If it should happen through some irregularity in operation that the pressure in the air filter is too high for the fan 31 to take care of the fluid it is dissipated into the atmosphere through the stockings 34. The conduit 36 also connects through the pipe 39, with the mill (not shown) so as to be in circuit with the intake conduit 5.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description. The material laden fluid is forced under pressure through the conduit 5 and discharged into the funnel ill in a whirling motion. An air-blast emanates from between the flanges II and I 2, passes through the whirling material and entrains the lighter particles thereof, while the heavier particles drop through the conduits l5 to be returned to the mill. It will be noted that the air-blast has to travel through a considerable distance to the cylinder 2' so that there is ample chance for the heavier particles to separate from the lighter particles. The air-blast carrying the lighter particles is then diverted into funnel H where a second separation takes place, the heavier particles dropping through the conduit l6 upon the cone 8 and joining the whirling material in the funnel ill for further classification, while the lighter particles are entrained in the fluid and pass into the dust collector 2. Here a new classification takes place and the heavier particles are discharged through the bottom of the funnel 24 to form the first product, while the lighter particles are carried by the fluid into the air filter. Here all the material is separated from the fluid passing either through the pipes 32 or the stockings 34 to emanate from the funnel 35 as superfine product. The fluid itself is then returned through the conduits 33 and 39 into the pipes l3 and 5 for a renewal of the entire operation.

I claim:

1. In a classifier, a frusto-conical wall, means for passing an air blast therethrough from below and means for discharging material to be classifled into the airblast from the center of the frusto-conical wall, a cylindrical wall connecting with the upper end 0: the frusto-conical wall for guiding the blast and a second frusto-conical wall arranged at a distance from the first frusto-conical wall for restricting the air blast passage, a bafile plate surmounting the second frusto-conical wall for diverting the air blast centerwise and an outlet conduit having means for adjusting the position of its mouth relative to the bafiie.

2. In a classifier, a separator having means for classifying material carried by an air blast directed therethrough, a dust collector connected to the separator and adapted to further collect material from the air blast, an air filter connected to the dust collector and including a cyclone and stocking suspended therefrom and a conduit connecting the cyclone to the separator for returning part of the air blast to the separator for continuous circulation while other air is dissipated through the stockings.

3. In a classifier of the character described, a vertical pipe having slots at the upper end thereof, vanes projecting angularly from the pipe adjacent the slots for imparting swirling motion to an air blast passing through the pipe and the slots and a closure for the upper end of the pipe, having a cone projecting into the pipe for diverting the air blast into the slots.

4. In a classifier of the character described, a vertical pipe having slots at the upper end thereof, vanes projecting angularly from the pipe adjacent the slots for imparting swirling motion to an air blast passing through the pipe and the slots, a closure for the upper end of the pipe, a frusto-conical wall surrounding the upper end of the pipe and having a flange projecting outwardlyfrom the lower end thereof, a second flange running parallel to the said flange and forming a frusto-conical passage therewith, and

meansfor directing an air blast through the said passage toward the upper end of the pipe.

In a classifier or the character described, a vertical pipe having slots at the upper end there'- of, vanes projecting angularly from the pipe adjacent the slots for imparting swirling motion to an air blast passing through the pipe and the slots, a closure for the upper end or the pip'e, a frusto-conical wall surrounding the upper end of the pipe and having'a'flange projecting out-' wardly .trom the lower end thereoi, a second flange running parallel to the said flange and forming a Irusto-co'nicalpassage therewith, and means for directing an air'blast through the said passage toward the upper end of thepipe, the two flangw having an annular enclosure connecting the same.

6.. Ina classifier '01 the character described, a vertical pipe having discharge slots in the upper end thereof, a closure for the end of the pipe, a

,frusto-conical wall surrounding the upper end of the pipe and having a flange projecting outwardly from the lower end thereof, a second flange running parallel to the said flange and forming a frusto-conical passage therewith and means for directing an air blastthrough the said passage toward the upper end of the pipe.

- therethrough from below, means for discharging the material laterally, means for directing an 7. In a classifier of the characterdescribed, a vertical pipe having discharge slots in the upper end thereof, a closure for the end of the pipe, a frusto-conical wall surrounding the upper end of the pipe and having a flange projecting outwardly from the lower end thereof, a second flange running parallel to the said flange and forming a irusto-conical passage therewith and means for directing an air blast through the said passage toward the upper end of the pipe, the

two flanges having an annular enclosure connecting the same. a

8. In a classifier of the character described, a vertical conduit, means for passing material air blast through the discharged material from below whereby lighter particles are carried upaoomaa ward and heavier particles allowed to drop 1 and means for again classifying the lighter particles including a second conduit above and aimed with the first conduit for returning the heavier ones thereof to the original place of lat- ,eral discharge, with a conical head on the first conduit serving to divert and comminute the material.

9. In a classifier oi the character described, a

vertical conduit, means for passing an air currentand material. entrained therein through the conduit from below, means connected with the conduit causing the air current to discharge the material laterally whereby the discharged material .is scattered, means for directing an air-blast vertical conduit, means for passing an air current and material entrained therein through the conduit from below, means connected with the conduit causing the air current to discharge the material laterally whereby the discharged material is scattered, means for directing an air blast through the discharged material from below for classifying the same, a relatively long cylinder for guiding the air blast a considerable distance above the conduit discharge, acentral tunnel for restricting the air blast at the upper end of the cylinder, a central outlet over the tunnel and means for diverting the air blast into the latter outlet, the tunnel serving to guide part of the material entrained in the air blast back to the discharge area of the first conduit.

HAZLI'I'I ALVA CUPPY. 

